Standardized Testing Anxiety -- Help please

[Camicar]

My dd is 15 and a sophomore in a large suburban high school (approx 3000 students). It is a highly-regarded high school with tons of electives (aviation, architecture, and a huge culinary program) and tons of pressure to take AP classes. She is most interested in design, marketing and communications.

Dd has always been a straight A student. Has no problem taking regular tests and getting excellent grades on them. BUT right from the beginning of her schooling she would freeze up on multiple-choice standardized tests. We identified this problem and asked for assistance beginning in 3rd grade when her inability to do well on standardized tests kept her out of GT programs. We were told that she would outgrow it and we were pushing too hard.

Well, now the test has hit the fan. She is in AP US History and flunking the multiple choice portion of the tests. She gets A+ on the essay portion and D/F on the multiple choice. So the problem is not overall test anxiety, it's just on the multiple choice area.

Her AP teacher (a jerk, IMO) told us that he's never heard of anyone having problems with standardized tests (seriously?) and that he can't help us. Moreover, that her previous 4.0 GPA for the past 9 years was a 'fluke' and after all, until you're a sophomore, you're only taking baby classes, so that 4.0 doesn't count and maybe she's not college material. BUT...she should keep taking his class.

Her guidance counselor said she could transfer out to 'regular' history but not taking AP history would mean she won't get into college. I pointed out that getting a D/F in AP History won't help her get into college either. She had no idea how to help us help her. She suggested Sylvan.

Sylvan says they can possibly help her do better on ACT and SAT tests, but that it may not help her on other tests or the state standardized tests because they do not tutor to overcome general standardized testing problems. And it would cost us $1800 to do both programs with an uncertain outcome.

So... Any advice from someone who's BTDT?

TIA.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well, I do not have your issue however I suggest you do anything and everything to get her to do better on mutiple choice answers.
There will be many classes in college that will include it and it is very important to get her to that place for the future.

I would suggest perhaps counseling of some sort? Like with a private tutor to help? I don't know. I would exhaust all avenues looking for help.

FWIW my 17yodd has had private tutors for math and it helped tremendously. She is now a senior and it has paid off. In addition she took a SAT course for free at her HS last year. It not only boosted her SAT score but she said she learned how to take AP classes better. She has taken many AP's, including World, Euro, American. It is her "thing".

Good Luck.

 

[MushyMushy]

I never would have believed something like this if I hadn't seen it in person. I saw one of the most intelligent girls break down into sobbing fits when faced with standardized tests -- even when they were just practice tests. This kid was a straight A student with absolutely no other hangups or issues that I know about. But you put a standardized test in front of her and she's a quivering mass of jelly.

Instead of something like Sylvan, what about a regular psychologist. I think test anxiety is a mental health issue, so I'd start there. If she's that good of a student, then she probably doesn't need tutoring, but some actual counseling. I can't believe the guidance counselor's response!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Instead of something like Sylvan, what about a regular psychologist. I think test anxiety is a mental health issue, so I'd start there. If she's that good of a student, then she probably doesn't need tutoring, but some actual counseling. I can't believe the guidance counselor's response!

Agree there!

I suggested tutoring as a option because my dd's Math tutor was a Special Ed teacher. She was soooo great. Really taught my dd so much more than just math. We were lucky.

OP sounds like your school is not very helpful. I hope you find a solution.

 

[ead79]

I agree with the suggestions about talking to a psychologist about the test-taking anxiety. I think they could help your DD determine why the multiple choice questions make her panic when the other types of questions do not. They could also teach some coping techniques that she could use to calm herself down when she starts to feel the anxiety coming on.

I also agree that it's important to find ways to help your DD overcome this, as multiple choice formats were often used when I was in college. Additionally, the AP exams themselves will have both multiple choice and essay sections on them.

As far as her ability to take AP classes goes, it sounds like she's certainly got the ability to take them and will flourish once someone is able to help her get to the root of her anxiety over multiple choice questions. But I will say that AP courses are much more difficult than regular level courses. So if she starts to get some B's instead of A's, it isn't anything to worry about. Colleges generally prefer to see a student challenge herself with a more difficult curriculum and get a B rather than take an easier class to get an A.

 

[Camicar]

Thanks for the suggestions. I feel very alone in this, so your help is appreciated!

So if she starts to get some B's instead of A's, it isn't anything to worry about. Colleges generally prefer to see a student challenge herself with a more difficult curriculum and get a B rather than take an easier class to get an A.

but I don't think a college would look kindly on a D, which is what she has now and without help, that D is not going to rise to a B. So I don't see the point of her continuing in this class until we solve her problem.

Perhaps the counselor idea for anxiety is the right one. We have another appointment this afternoon, but I think her school is going to be useless in helping me. After reading your suggestions, I called her doctor this morning, they had no referrals either. I feel very at sea with this and I don't know where to start when no one is giving me any guidance. I can't just pick a counselor out of the yellow pages. She only has anxiety about this issue, so it's a specific problem. I mean, really specific. She can take a teacher-created multiple choice test and get an A without blinking, but give her a standardized test and it's a whole different story.

How do I go about finding a counselor to help solve the anxiety problem?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

How do I go about finding a counselor to help solve the anxiety problem?

I think it is called "cognitive behavioral therapy"?

 

[allison443]

She only has anxiety about this issue, so it's a specific problem. I mean, really specific. She can take a teacher-created multiple choice test and get an A without blinking, but give her a standardized test and it's a whole different story.

Is your dd able to express why she can do well on a teacher-created multiple choice but not on a standardized multiple-choice? That is interesting. Wouldn't they both use the same skill of reading comprehension, analyzing the choices, eliminating wrong answers, etc. Is the AP teacher making up his own tests or using them from somewhere else? How does your dd know the difference?
If she has the ability to do well on multiple choices, which sounds like she does, then it sounds like maybe she is overwhelmed by the pressure of what she considers "standardized tests".

Also, the teacher doesn't sound very helpful. You can certainly get into college without taking AP classes in sophomore year.

Maybe counseling for her anxiety like others have suggested. I really hope it works out for her. It's good you are catching this in time, before SATs etc.

 

[golfgal]

I have a friend that is a licensed clinical hypnotist that deals with these things all the time as well. That could be an option too. If you are anywhere near MN I would be happy to pass her name on to you.

As for getting into college/not getting into college if she doesn't take AP History--that is a crock. She will have a harder time getting into Harvard or Yale without it but there are PLENTY of schools she can attend, all very good schools, without AP History. The REAL advantage of the AP classes is getting college credit for those classes and not having to take that gen ed in college. I don't know about your school but our high school is about 1/2 the size of your school and we have 3 levels of coursework, regular, honors and AP. There are kids from all these levels that get into college. I wouldn't worry about that at all.

 

[PrincessPAC]

I think it is called "cognitive behavioral therapy"?

REBT could work as well (rational emotive behavioral therapy). If she just automatically panics and tells herself that she can't do it, she's going to fail, etc. - then it sounds like she could benefit by using a counselor who will help her to change her "self-talk." Hopefully, this will reduce her anxiety.

I saw this technique work on a 9 year-old who cried when it came time to do fractions.

Just a thought, though. Good luck!

 

[mytwotinks]

No answers, but I just wanted to give you my support.

My dd10 is a way above average student and while she always does very well on the standardized tests they do each year, she stresses out and worries about them way too much.

It doesn't help that our superintendent has the teachers threaten all of the kids repeatedly. He wants them to know that if they don't pass the test they will not move on to the next grade. So, my straight a student spends the year worrying that she is going to fail!

I honestly think that the difference is knowing that you are going to be compared to others and the extreme amounts of pressure that are put on this one test. Any other test you take is being considered as part of a collection of your grades. These standardized tests are just meant to stand on their own. I hate them!

I hope she finds an answer and can begin to show her true abilities on these tests! Good luck.

 

[Camicar]

If she has the ability to do well on multiple choices, which sounds like she does, then it sounds like maybe she is overwhelmed by the pressure of what she considers "standardized tests".

our superintendent has the teachers threaten all of the kids repeatedly. He wants them to know that if they don't pass the test they will not move on to the next grade. So, my straight a student spends the year worrying that she is going to fail!

Yeah, dd had a series of teachers and principals just like that, which makes me want to hurt them. Why don't educators know that threatening kids is not motivating?

Is your dd able to express why she can do well on a teacher-created multiple choice but not on a standardized multiple-choice? That is interesting. Wouldn't they both use the same skill of reading comprehension, analyzing the choices, eliminating wrong answers, etc.

Yes, the exact same skill set and often, very similar questions. She is very articulate, but all she can say is that her brain freezes. I saw this myself last week when the teacher sent home a practice test. I decided that I would read the questions to her since she has always done better with learning by HEARING than by reading and she has learned herself that if she is stuck that if she reads it to herself, she can grasp it much better. So I read aloud the questions to her and I saw this blankness come into her eyes. She was just stuck. I'm helping her by saying, "Okay, first remove the choices that are definitely NOT true." And even at that, she would balk. "I don't know." I would say gently, "Sure you do. Try it again." And she would just get panicked, "I don't know, I don't know!"

Is the AP teacher making up his own tests or using them from somewhere else? How does your dd know the difference?

He reuses past AP tests. My dd knows the difference in general however, bec regular tests do not have little circles you must fill in only with a #2 pencil!

Also, the teacher doesn't sound very helpful. You can certainly get into college without taking AP classes in sophomore year.

Teacher was a total jerk. If nothing else, I don't want him teaching her bec he is certainly not going to help her if the problem is one of anxiety.

Thanks also for the counseling suggestions. I guess this will begin a long process of trying to help her.

What about all those kids whose parents can't or won't help them?

 

[agnes!]

So it's not multiple-choice tests that she has an issue with. She has a fear/problem with a *very* specific type - the Scantron ones that you have to fill in one choice with the specified #2.

I would move heaven and earth to get this fixed as well as possible and as soon as possible. She has GOT to be able to master this type of test in her academic career.

And, you are right this teacher is a jerk.

And for these so-called educational professionals that you & your child have run into in to even THINK that THREATENING and brow-beating *children* will somehow make the kids improve their scores?

In my book, that's called abuse.

agnes!

 

[punkin]

As for getting into college/not getting into college if she doesn't take AP History--that is a crock. She will have a harder time getting into Harvard or Yale without it but there are PLENTY of schools she can attend, all very good schools, without AP History.

Absolutely 100% true!!!

 

[Camicar]

So it's not multiple-choice tests that she has an issue with. She has a fear/problem with a *very* specific type - the Scantron ones that you have to fill in one choice with the specified #2.

Those are the worst. But the one last week was just 'circle the correct answer on the sheet' type of test. But she KNEW it was a standardized test and that was the end of that.

I have seen her take much much harder teacher-created tests in science which is not her strongest suit, for example, and she just keeps going, doesn't get discouraged, and does well. In that class she had to work and work hard for an A, but she still got it. In another class, which 'should' be easy she is getting a D bec it's standardized testing all the time. I'm just so frustrated at being told that "Gee, we've never heard of this problem before, so you're on your own."

 

[agnes!]

Have you told them that just because they have never heard of this issue before does not make their 'impression' the Gospel truth.

She's not even my kid and I'm getting mad for her! I can hardly imagine what it's like for you and for her!

agnes!

 

[Camicar]

Have you told them that just because they have never heard of this issue before does not make their 'impression' the Gospel truth.

I think my incredulous response was, "REALLY? You've never heard of a student with test anxiety? REALLY?" The word balloon inside my head was saying, "You are sad excuses for educators and counselors."

She's not even my kid and I'm getting mad for her! I can hardly imagine what it's like for you and for her!

agnes!

thanks for the support.